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All content in this area was uploaded by Gregory Τ. Papanikos on Mar 21, 2023
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Content uploaded by Gregory Τ. Papanikos
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All content in this area was uploaded by Gregory Τ. Papanikos on Mar 20, 2023
Content may be subject to copyright.
The Ancient Athenian Symposiums and
their Synchronous Revival by ATINER
By Gregory T. Papanikos
19 March 2023 at 19:00
Athens Institute for Education and Research
A World Association of Academics & Researchers
Parthenon … on the Acropolis Hill, in the Polis of Athens
Athens Institute for Education and Research
A World Association of Academics & Researchers
ATINER joins its Ancient Setting in Welcoming you …
Athens Institute for Education and Research
A World Association of Academics & Researchers
Our city is open to the world, we never
expel a foreigner from learning or
seeing
[τήν τε γὰρ πόλιν κοινὴν παρέχομεν, καὶ
οὐκ ἔστιν ὅτε ξενηλασίαις ἀπείργομέν
τινά ἢ μαθήματος ἢ θεάματος]
Thucydides (431 BCE), Pericles’
Funeral Orations in The Peloponnesian
War
by Philipp Foltz (1852)
Herodotus Protagoras Aristotle
Athens Institute for Education and Research
A World Association of Academics & Researchers
ATINER is aWorld Association of Academics and Researchers based in Athens with
aMission to become a forum where Academics and Researchers from all over the
world can convene in Athens in small groups like in ancient Athenian symposiums,
exchange ideas on their research and discuss future developments in their
disciplines, as well as engage with professionals from other fields.
ATINER invites Educators and Researchers from the Academic Ecumene, to come to
Athens and to engage in academic discussions on research topics in various disciplines
in very small parallel groups of academics similar to the symposiums in Ancient Athens
such as Plato’s symposium of 416 BCE. The organization of academic gatherings in
Athens, remains ATINER’s first and foremost priority.
Athens Institute for Education and Research
A World Association of Academics & Researchers
1. Homer (Iliad, Odyssey) - 8th Century BCE
2. Hesiod (Works and Days, Theogony) - 8th
3. Ionians (Thales, Anaximenes, Anaxagoras) - 7th-6th
4. Solon - 6th
5. Pythagoreanism [Pythagoras, Philolaus, Eurytus] - 6th-5th
6. Historians (Hekataios, Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon] - 6th-5th
7. Sophists [Protagoras, Gorgias, Hippias, Prodicus, Antiphon] - 5th
8. Materialism [Leucippus, Democritus] - 5th
9. Plato’s Academy [Plato, Plutarch and many others] - 4th
10. Cynics [Antisthenes, Diogenes] - 4th
11. Epicureans [Epicurus, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus] - 4th
12. Aristotle’s Lyceum [Aristotle, Theophrastus and many others] - 4th
13. Skepticism-Pyrrhonism [Pyrrhus] - 4th
14. Stoics [Zeno, Cleanthes, Chrysippus] - 4th-3rd
15. Eclecticism
16. Etc.
Diogenes
Plato-Aristotle
Euclid
Socrates
Epicurus
Zeno
Selected Papers by Plato (editor)
published as Symposium
Profession Suggested Title Time in
minutes
Notes
1Phaedrus of Myrrhinus, son of
Pythocles
Philosopher (? Or at least well-
known commenter on public
issues)
Eros Causes Heroic Actions 5:00 He was chairing the symposium.
2Pausanias of Kerameis Philosopher The Two Natures of Eros 10:47
Low quality talk but he was selected because his
relatives’ powerful political connections produced
Agathon’s play?
3Eryximachus of Athens, son of
Acumenus
Physician from a well-known
family of ancient Physicians
A Scientific Approach to Eros with
an Emphasis on Medicine 11:36 It was Aristophanes turn but he was not able to
speak because of a sudden attack of hiccups.
4Aristophanes of Cydatheneum, son
of Philippus Playwriter The Original Three Sexes of the
Anthropic Existence 11:55
A good but not persuasive myth framed as
contrarian, satirical science. (1st time he had met
Socrates)
5Agathon of Athens, son of
Tisamenus Playwriter The Four Parts of Eros: Justice,
Prudence, Prowess and Wisdom 08:13
(By the guest of honor –an idealistic playwright.)
An eloquent enough speech but using very weak
arguments
6Socrates of Alopece, son of
Sophroniscus Philosopher Eros Cannot be Beautiful 12:18
7Diotima of Mantinea / Socrates in a
Dialogue Philosopher A Holistic Method to Study Eros 2 x 15:50
Her paper was read by Socrates. This is
interesting, since she framed it as a ‘Dialogue’
between herself and Socrates
Total Time of Presentations in Minutes 90:28 It does not include the time lost between
presentations.
The Symposium was Interrupted by a violent Invasion of young, and very drunk, Athenian aristocrats led by Alcibiades –who later tried to shift blame (for many things in his life) by
claiming he was Socrates’ student (he attended perhaps two classes?). Some students still do this. To get him out the door (and because he was a celebrity) he was allowed to speak.
His intrusion came last; not in the program. He spoke heavily influenced by -at the least - alcohol and who knows what else. ATINER tries to adjust time for legitimate latecomers,
but not for the uninvited.
8Alcibiades of Scambonidae, son of
Clinias
Socrates, My Lover, is a Super
Star. 36:00
Athens Institute for Education and Research
A World Association of Academics & Researchers
Athens Institute for Education and Research
A World Association of Academics & Researchers
Athens Institute for Education and Research
A World Association of Academics & Researchers
Athens Institute for Education and Research
A World Association of Academics & Researchers
Athens Institute for Education and Research
A World Association of Academics & Researchers
➢Today, ATINER has 2,549 members from 117 countries organized in 37
Units, 6 Divisions and 6 Centers. Each one organizes its own annual
events.
➢6,000 academics from 150 countries have volunteered their services to
help with reviewing.
➢Every year (or over all the non-Covid years) about 2,000 researchers have
presented their papers to one of ATINER’s conferences and other events.
➢In total, more than 30,000 researchers have come to Athens and
presented papers to one or more conferences organized by ATINER
since 1995.
Athens Institute for Education and Research
A World Association of Academics & Researchers
➢ATINER is committed to the ‘Socratic’ scale of conversation, and –like the
infrastructure-scale of Hellenistic or Roman cities vs. those today –tries for more
of the smaller, face-to-face conversational conferences vs. the larger, more
regimented ones.
➢ATINER will gladly accept proposals for panels of papers on a theme (especially
if you can recruit several yourself and they pass review), but typically will place
papers for a session in a slight topical mix under a theme, intending to spark
cross-conversation of ideas.
➢ATINER can provide a logistic base for, and help partner top-quality content for,
an Athens-based course you wish to set up from your parent school or museum,
but the academic credit must come from your institution.
➢ATINER members, including research work groups meeting from different
institutions in Athens - for research - can qualify for (shared) office space and
some help with local resources.
Athens Institute for Education and Research
A World Association of Academics & Researchers
International conferences and symposiums, academic dialogues, public speeches,
and roundtable discussions
Publications
Hosting courses in Athens accredited by international universities (e.g., University
of Maryland, State University of Georgia, Sam Houston University, University of
Ottawa, Nanyang University of Singapore etc.)
Research (external funding based on members initiative).
Hosting visiting researchers, fellows, etc. (self-funded)
Consulting public and private (business) organizations
Athens Institute for Education and Research
A World Association of Academics & Researchers
1. Abstract Books (a few weeks after the conference)
2. ATINER's Conference Presentation Series (based on submission)
3. Online Paper Series (based on submission and reviewing)
4. Books: Collection of Papers from various conferences [200 books
have been published by ATINER by 865 authors/editors]
5. 16 e-Journals in English and one in Greek. In 2021, the overall
acceptance rate after blind peer-review was less than 35%, BUT …
the bottom line is, we are always looking to improve the quality of
papers for various journals.
Athens Institute for Education and Research
A World Association of Academics & Researchers
Become a member
Do your research in Athens. If you are a student, more than
welcome to do research for a thesis in Athens under the co-
supervision of an ATINER academic member
Organize a conference, or a symposium, a stream, or panel-
session conferences
Review and/or submit papers for publication
Organize a summer/visiting course
Suggest something else, but –remember - you will need to have
the resources (money and time) to implement it